Feds seek stay in lawsuit over oil spill LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Arkansas asked a judge on Wednesday to stay proceedings in their lawsuit against ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. because of the federal government shutdown. The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Chris Thyer, said in a court filing that most attorneys for the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency can’t work on the case during the government shutdown — even on a voluntary ba...

Lawmaker floats ethics bills for sessionLITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas lawmaker on Wednesday suggested nearly a dozen changes to the state’s ethics and campaign finance laws that he says could be considered during a special session the governor is considering calling to address teacher insurance costs. Rep. Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock, detailed the bills in an email to House and Senate members in an effort to see if there’s support for any of them if the Legislature returns to the ...

Walnut Ridge signs over city-owned helicopter WALNUT RIDGE (AP) — Walnut Ridge has signed a bill of sale for its city-owned helicopter, even though the city doesn’t have ownership of a small airplane it received in exchange. Mayor Don House said Tuesday he signed the bill of sale for the Bell OH-58A military helicopter to Miles Flying Service of Bono. But council members questioned the deal, noting that the city still doesn’t have the title for the 1964 Piper Cub airplane it received in e...

City, state mull Weir Road, Hwy. 124 projectRussellville officials are expected to reconsider an improvement project at Weir Road and State Highway 124 after a meeting Tuesday with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD). For several years, the AHTD and city of Russellville have discussed the need for improvements at the Weir Road and Highway 124 intersection. In 2011, the City Council passed a resolution agreeing to partner with AHTD to complete the project. The city ...

Obama, Boehner trade barbs, hints of compromise WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner offered hints of possible compromise but also traded heated rhetoric Tuesday, a frustratingly inconclusive combination that left the eight-day partial government shutdown firmly in place and the threat of an unprecedented national default drawing closer. “There’s a crack there,” Boehner said of the impasse near the end of a day of maneuvering at the White House and the Cap...

Questionable design blamed for health website woes WASHINGTON (AP) — A decision by the Obama administration to require that consumers create online accounts before they can browse health overhaul insurance plans appears to have led to many of the glitches that have frustrated customers, independent experts say. Most e-commerce websites — as well as medicare.gov — are not designed to require those merely browsing to set up accounts. But it’s one of the first steps on healthcare.gov. Consumers t...

Q&A: Why breaking federal debt limit sparks fear WASHINGTON (AP) — Here’s the scariest thing about the looming deadline to raise the U.S. government’s borrowing limit: No one knows precisely what will happen if the limit is breached. It’s never happened before. The possible consequences are dizzyingly complex. But they’re all bad. Most ominously, the government might fail to make interest payments on its debt. Any missed payment would trigger a default. Financial markets would sink. Banks wo...

Govt health and safety efforts slowed or halted WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has slowed or halted federal efforts to protect Americans’ health and safety, from probes into the cause of transportation and workplace accidents to tracking the flu. The latest example: investigating an outbreak of salmonella in chicken that has sickened people in 18 states. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recalled some of its furloughed staff to deal with the salmonella ou...

Gov’t: Most heating bills to rise this winter The government forecast Tuesday that most households will pay more for heat this winter. Heating oil users will catch a slight break, but still pay near-record prices to keep warm. Prices for natural gas, electricity and propane should be higher, the primary reason that more than 90 percent of U.S. homes will incur higher heating expenses. Natural gas users will see the biggest percentage increase after two years of historically low prices. Th...

American adults score poorly on global test WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s long been known that America’s school kids haven’t measured well compared with international peers. Now, there’s a new twist: Adults don’t either. In math, reading and problem-solving using technology — all skills considered critical for global competitiveness and economic strength — American adults scored below the international average on a global test, according to results released Tuesday. Adults in Japan, Canada, Au...

Commission addresses alleged voter fraudThe Pope County Election Commission is looking into how to address alleged incidents of voter fraud. Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove told commissioners Wednesday of two instances of suspected voter fraud in recent elections. The first case was a voter who cast a ballot Aug. 6 during early voting for the Aug. 13 special election for the city of Russellville. The voter confirmed an address at the polling place. Upon later review, it was de...

Pope County Quorum Court divided on millage increaseA proposal to increase property taxes in Pope County remains controversial. The Quorum Court heard Thursday the second reading of an ordinance that would increase from one mill to two the millage levied for the county’s General Fund. Some justices, however, made a move to table the proposal entirely. Justice Don Daily said he was bothered that there was no move to take the matter to the public for a vote. Justice Bill Sparks agreed and said “w...

Lawmakers weigh teacher insurance optionsLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A hike in Arkansas teacher insurance rates could be lowered, but not eliminated, through a combination of increased funding from the state and school districts and lower-than-planned premium increases, according to a memo distributed to lawmakers Friday. State legislative leaders detailed the options they’re weighing during a potential special session to address the hikes expected to hit 47,000 public school teachers in Janu...

AG OKs wording of medical marijuana proposalLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Thursday approved the wording of a second proposal to legalize medical marijuana in the state, clearing the way for supporters to begin gathering signatures to qualify for next year’s ballot. McDaniel certified the wording of the proposal submitted by Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the group behind a medical marijuana measure that voters narrowly rejected in November. The certi...

Special elections cost Russellville $32,871Special elections conducted this year will cost the city of Russellville $32,870.49. Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgove provided the Pope County Election Commission a cost breakdown on Wednesday of all three elections conducted this year. Russellville voters were asked to head to the polls twice — once for an Aug. 13 referendum election which upheld a city zoning ordinance and again on Sept. 10, where voters said “yes” to a seven-year contin...

Court orders arbitration in LegalZoom caseLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas’ highest court says a lawsuit that accuses an online legal document services company of illegally practicing law in the state must instead go to arbitration. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a Pope County judge was wrong to deny LegalZoom.com Inc.’s motion to compel arbitration in the lawsuit filed by a Russellville man. Jonathan McIllwain had used the LegalZoom site to make a last will and testamen...

Cedarville police chief fired; 6 officers quit CEDARVILLE (AP) — Officials say the Cedarville police chief was fired this week — and six police officers also decided to quit their jobs with the department. Cedarville Mayor Glenanna O’Mara says Police Chief Mark Gentry was relieved of his duties Wednesday. O’Mara would not say what led to Gentry’s firing, only that there are no allegations of wrongdoing during his tenure. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the six officers resigned because...

Congressman deletes 'violent rhetoric' tweetLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A Republican congressman from Arkansas on Thursday posted - and later deleted - a tweet criticizing President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers for "violent rhetoric" during a U.S. Capitol lockdown following a shooting. U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin tweeted from his personal account "Stop the violent rhetoric President Obama, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi" after a shooting was reported outside the Capitol. Griffin's tweet inclu...

Police shoot driver outside Capitol after chase WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman driving a black Infiniti with a young child inside tried to ram through a White House barricade Thursday, then led police on a chase that ended in gunfire outside the Capitol, witnesses and officials said. Tourists watched the shooting unfold on Constitution Avenue outside the Capitol as lawmakers inside debated how to end a government shutdown. Police quickly locked down the entire complex temporarily, and both house...